By Julie Castle | April 9, 2020 I caught a news story last week about the New England Patriots loaning their team plane and offering other support to the Boston and New York areas to replenish critical medical supplies during COVID-19. And as it turns out, that story is not unique. There’s a lengthy list of professional sports teams…
By Julie Castle | April 28, 2020 This past weekend, during one of his daily COVID-19 press conferences, New York governor Andrew Cuomo reminded us of one simple, beautiful fact: If you don’t change, you don’t grow. Finding the silver lining to any challenging or tragic situation, let alone a global pandemic like the one we’re currently facing, can feel…
By Julie Castle | May 1, 2020 I’m looking at a photograph that Nick Walton, Best Friends national shelter outreach manager, just sent me. It shows his dog, DanDan, lounging on the patio at his home in Georgia, and there’s a little chick happily perched on his head. The caption reads: “DanDan has taught me the art of…
By Julie Castle | May 29, 2020 Saving the lives of the dogs and cats in our communities and supporting programs that keep them safe, healthy and with the people who love and care for them are things we can all get behind. So, why have we always relied on a single institution to take on that responsibility?…
By Julie Castle | June 3, 2020 At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as animal welfare organizations and their partners were forced to close their doors to the public, they swiftly shifted gears and moved unprecedented numbers of homeless dogs and cats into foster and adoptive homes. And now, three months later, we’re working together to help…
By Julie Castle | June 24, 2020 During the weekly Best Friends town hall last week, a handful of incredible animal welfare leaders from Dallas, Texas, sat down for a candid conversation about the powerful impact of true community-centered lifesaving work. It was an expert lesson in what substantive collaboration to save the lives of pets actually looks like…
By Julie Castle | June 25, 2020 I’ve always believed that anyone can help homeless pets. You don’t need a rescue label, special credentials or permission to help save animals. You just need reliable information and resources paired with a collaborative, community-minded spirit to guide you. Individual community members are the no-kill movement’s greatest resource and a central…
By Julie Castle | June 16, 2020 Early last Friday morning, as the sunrise lit up the sky with pink and blue hues, a small transport plane took off from Abilene, Texas, carrying 77 homeless dogs and cats in search of loving homes of their own. Thanks to an incredible collaboration among Abilene Animal Services, Dog Is My…
By Julie Castle | June 18, 2020 If there’s one thing I wish more people knew when it comes to changing the world for the better, it’s this: You have more power than you think. From protecting our most vulnerable citizens and essential workers during the pandemic to standing up for racial equality and social justice, 2020 has become…
This summer marks five years since two Best Friends pet adoption centers opened their doors — the NKLA Pet Adoption Center in Los Angeles and the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in Salt Lake City. It’s cause for not just one or two — but thousands of celebrations. Since they opened, the two centers have made it possible…